Game 1 semi-final belongs to Schio, who holds the field factor and advances in the series, gaining the possibility of match point for the final. Next Wednesday, for Ragusa, only one possible result, namely victory, to take the series to Game 3.
Super start from Schio who immediately took the lead to 10-2 in the first three minutes with Guirantes and Parks while Ragusa’s only basket was from Jasmine Thomas. Schio runs away at 13-2 then two triples by Jakubcova and Thomas bring the score to 13-8. The green-and-whites shake off the tension and then Miccoli goes for a three to make it 15-11 with 3′ left in the first quarter which then ends 19-16. Game reopened, but Sottana immediately hits a three in the second quarter starting a 5-0 run. The same Sottana again for the new +10 Schio, 27-17. In the second quarter there is only one team on the field. Schio increases the defensive intensity, Ragusa becomes imprecise in attack. At halftime the score is 41-25.
Third quarter in which Schio even goes to +20, then comes a 7-0 scored by Jakubcova and Pastrello for 47-34 at 4′ and 40” from the penultimate siren which even becomes a 12-0 partial which brings Ragusa to only 8 points behind, but Schio responds in turn and Sottana completes the counter break of 9-0 for 56-39 at the end of the third quarter. Last fraction without history, Schio goes on velvet and deservedly takes home the match which ends 76-51.
“We knew it would be a difficult match – comments assistant coach Massimo Romano – we were coming off the tour de force against Bologna and we were meeting a team that had only played two matches against San Martino. Then they have another structure, so traveling and coming here wasn’t very easy. In any case we know that we can do better, have a better physical impact and put in more energy. Nothing is lost just as nothing was lost when we lost at home against Bologna. We will have a few days of recovery and everything is still possible. These girls deserve to play a great match 2 and I’m sure it will be a completely different match at home. We have to react as we reacted in game 3 in Bologna, and we know that we have this possibility. We need the public who can be an additional weapon.”
